In a bizarre turn of events, a French government was undone by its own unveiling. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned following a disastrous reaction to his cabinet announcement, a move that was intended to project stability but instead triggered immediate political collapse. The government effectively ceased to exist before it had the chance to govern.
Appointed last month by President Macron, Lecornu’s primary task was to assemble a team that could break the political stalemate. After weeks of negotiations, this team was presented to the public on Sunday. The reaction was not just negative; it was fatal. The list of ministers was widely panned as uninspired and a continuation of the past.
This perception created an instant political crisis. Opposition parties smelled blood in the water and launched a coordinated assault on the new government’s credibility. The Socialist Party, a key player in parliament, declared the administration illegitimate, a sentiment that quickly became the consensus view in a hostile political environment.
For Lecornu, the situation was hopeless. He was a general with an army that had been rejected before the first battle. With no support in parliament and facing unified opposition, he had no choice but to step down, leading to the bizarre spectacle of a Prime Minister resigning over a cabinet list before that cabinet had even met.
This event speaks volumes about the fragility of French politics. It shows that in the current climate, even symbolic acts like a cabinet appointment are fraught with peril. It also highlights the immense pressure on President Macron, who must now find another candidate for a job that has become seemingly impossible to perform.
A Government Undone by Its Own Unveiling
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